This list has been compiled by the Rochester Hills Parks and Forestry Department as an aid to homeowners in selecting tree varieties for residential landscapes. Please note that some of these varieties are not suitable for planting near sidewalks or streets. A permit is required for planting on city right-of-way. Please also note that the Forestry Division recommends planting the larger growing trees wherever space allows. In the long run, larger trees provide significantly greater benefits to the community than smaller trees.
Trees are listed below in three categories: Shade Trees, Flowering/Ornamental Trees and Evergreen Trees.
Hedge Maple (Acer campestre) M: Compact maple useful where space is limited, yellow fall color. 'Queen Elizabeth'
Miyabe Maple (Acer miyabei) M: Compact maple similar to hedge maple but with slightly larger leaves and somewhat faster growth, yellow fall color. 'State Street'
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) L: Native tree, fall color varies among cultivars from yellow to orange or red. May become chlorotic (yellow) in high pH soils. A very popular tree, now probably over-planted. 'Autumn Radiance' 'Burgundy Belle' 'Morgan' 'New World' 'Northfire' 'Red Sunset' 'Sun Valley'
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) L: Native tree, yellow to orange/red fall color. 'Commemoration' 'Green Mountain' 'Majesty' 'Sweet Shadow'
Hybrid Red/Silver Maple (Acer x freemanii) L: Native hybrid, relatively fast growing. 'Autumn Blaze' 'Autumn Fantasy' 'Celebration' 'Sienna'
Turkish Filbert (Corylus colurna) M: Upright, pyramidal habit, tolerates dry soil once established.
Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) L: Relatively slow growing, prefers good soil with adequate moisture.
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) L: Relatively slow growing, easier to establish than native beech. 'Asplenifolia' 'Pendula' 'Riversi'
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) L: Unique tree with fan-shaped leaves, relatively slow growing, yellow fall color. 'Autumn Gold' 'Magyar'
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) L: Native tree, small leaflets, yellow to green fall color. 'Skyline' 'Sunburst'
Kentucky Coffeetree (Glymocladus dioicus) L: Native tree, yellow to green fall color, cultivars are seedless (but not widely available). 'Prairie Titan' 'Stately Manor'
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) L: fall color varies from yellow to orange, red, or purple. Choose cultivars that are reliably hardy in Michigan. 'Cherokee' 'Happidaze' (seedless) 'Moraine' 'Worplesdon'
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) L: Native tree, yellow fall color, northern seed source recommended.
Amur Maackia (Maackia amurensis) M: Small white flowers in summer, olive-green to golden brown bark.
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) L: Deciduous conifer, relatively fast growing, prefers good soil with adequate moisture.
Blackgum aka Tupelo or Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica) M/L: Native tree, relatively slow growing, prefers acidic soil, yellow/orange to red fall color, northern seed source recommended.
White Oak (Quercus alba) L: Native tree, relatively slow growing. Fall color usually reddish-purple.
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) L: Native tree. Fall color yellow or brown.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) L: Native tree. Fall color yellow or brown. 'Heritage' (hybrid Bur x English)
English Oak (Quercus robur) L: Fall color varies from yellow to green or brown. Cultivars have better disease resistance and hardiness. 'Skymaster' 'Westminster Globe'
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) L: Native tree, fall color varies from dark red to reddish brown or yellow.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) M: Native tree, yellow to orange or red fall color.
Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) L: Deciduous conifer, relatively slow growing in Michigan. 'Shawnee Brave'
American Linden aka Basswood (Tilia americana) L: Native tree, yellow to green fall color. 'Boulevard' 'Legend' 'Redmond'
Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata) L: Yellow to green fall color. 'Glenleven' (=hybrid) 'Greenspire'
Crimean Linden (Tilia x euchlora) L: Yellow to green fall color, glossy leaves.
Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa) L: Yellow to green fall color, leaves silvery-white underneath. 'Green Mountain' 'Sterling Silver'
Elm hybrids (Ulmus sp.) L: Fall color usually yellow. Newer hybrids are resistant to insects and diseases (including Dutch elm disease). 'Accolade' 'Discovery' 'Triumph'
Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) L: Similar to elm in leaf shape and growth form. Fall color yellow to orange or dark red. 'Green Vase' 'Village Green'
FLOWERING/ORNAMENTAL TREES
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) S: Fall color yellow to orange or red. 'Embers' 'Flame'
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) S/M: Relatively slow growing, prefers good soil with adequate moisture and protection from wind, dark reddish fall color, peeling red-brown bark. 'Gingerbread' = 'Girard's Form' (hybrid)
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) S: Many cultivars are available, prefers good soil with adequate moisture and protection from wind.
Three Flowered Maple (Acer triflorum) S/M: Relatively slow growing, peeling golden-brown bark.
Horsechestnut/Buckeye (Aesculus sp.) M/L: White to pink or red flowers in spring, relatively slow growing. Baumanni is sterile and has no messy nuts. 'Autumn Splendor' (hybrid) 'Baumanni' 'Fort McNair' (hybrid)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) S: Native tree, many varieties available, white flowers in early spring.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) S: Native tree, yellow fall color, edible fruit.
River Birch (Betula nigra) M: Relatively pest-resistant, cinnamon-colored bark, may become chlorotic in high pH soils. 'Heritage'
White Birch (Betula papyrifera) M: Native tree, choose cultivars with borer resistance. 'Renaissance Reflection'
European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) M: Grows larger than native hornbeam, smooth gray bark.
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) S: Native tree, rosy-pink flowers in spring, northern seed source recommended.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) S: Native tree, white or pink flowers in spring, prefers good soil with adequate moisture and partial shade, choose cultivars that are reliably hardy in Michigan.
Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa) S: Many cultivars are available (including hybrids with native dogwood), white flowers, prefers good soil with adequate moisture and protection from wind.
Corneliancherry Dogwood (Cornus mas) S: Yellow flowers in early spring.
